Label folding and packing machine



Feb. 15 1927.

A. RO$ENTHAL LLBEL FOLDING AND PACKING MACHINE Filed May 1. 1926 5 Sne etS -Sheec 1 INVENTOR A. ROSENTHAL" LABEL FOLDING AND PACKING MACHINE Filed May 1926 5 sheets sh'et 2 25 a 2? 2e I 'INVENTOR Arthur Bosenthat Feb. 15, 1927.

Filed May 1. 1926 5 $heet s Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Feb. 15 1927.

A. ROSENTHAL.

LABEL FOLDING AND PACKING MACHINE 5 sheets sheec 4 Filed May 1. 1926 flr/hur Ease/71M! 6% $1 A TTQRNE Y eb 15 7 A. ROSENTHAL' LABEL FOLDING AND PA KIEG acamb Filed May 1. 1926 5 Shee v AWE/Wok Arthur" EosenthcLL Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

ARTHUR ROSENTI-IAL, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE ROSE PATCH .AND LABEL 00., 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

LABEL FCLDING AND PACKING MACHINE.

Application filed Meryl, 1926. Serial No. 106,015.

The invention is a development and in certain respects an improvement on the machine of a former Patent No. 1,528,511, dated March 3, 1925.

The object of the invention is to provide such a structure which is simple in operation, adapted to produce labels of different lengths and sizes, fold and crease the same expeditiously, and then straighten and pack the same into suitable containers.

The invention has to do particularly with the folder and creaser device and its adjustable feature in cooperation with the other parts, and to an improved straightening device in the packaging structure to cooperate withthe said improved folder.

Objects which pertain to details and econonlies of construction and operation of my invention will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a. part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view of a machine embodying the features of my invention, part of the balance wheel and the tip of the cam guide for the folder actuating lever being broken away to show de- ]aWs being in 1n1t1al.

tails, the main label gripping position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail plan view of the principal operating parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, certain portions being shown in broken section and other parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of certain of the operating parts appearing in Fig. 1, and from the same viewpoint, the machine being in a difl'erent'opcrative position from that appearing in Fig. 1, the main label gripping jaws being advanced into the label folder.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of some of the parts appearing in Fig. 3 with the label gripper jaws omitted to show details of the actuating parts, the label having been cut and the creaser blades still being elevated.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional elevational view on irregular line 55 of Fig. 2, showing various actuating cam means and parts, -portions being in full lines and parts broken away.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional elevational view on the irregular plane in dicated by line 6-6 of Figs. 2, 5 and 8, portions being in section and portions in full lines to, show the relations of the label gripper and feed jaws to the cut off shears, the folding mechanism and the packaging mechanism, the 'main label gripper jaws being shown, in the position to engage the end of the label strip in initial position, the dotted. lines showing the position of parts when the label is cut, the parts being in the operative position shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a similar detail sectional View showing the main gripper advanced to the folder and the folder in operation, and-the label feeding'jaws in operative position to deliver to the packer, the shifting action of the packagingdevice being indicated by, dotted lines, the parts being in the operative position shown in Fig. 3. 3 I

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 2, showing the folder actuating means and the heater element in detail, the parts being in the operating position shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

Fig. 9' is an enlarged detail View of the adjustable cam-shaped stop for the label folding lever taken on line 99 of Figs. 1,2,3and 8.'.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail sectional elevational view of the packaging. means taken on line 10"1O of Figs. 2, 6 and 7 Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of one o-fthe folded labels.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

This invention relates to additionsand' improvements to those of the mechanism appearing in the said former patent to which we refer for full detailed description of the many parts. The machine is illustrated sufficiently in this patent to understand the particular features which I have improved I and developed.

'and in exactliy labels are handled successively by the spaced pairs of label gripper and feeder jaws which are coupled together and operated simultaneously. The main label gripper jaws grasp the extreme end of the label strip in its initial position in front of the shears and feed it forward a single step a label length by suitable timed cam means. The shears are correctly timed to out the label at that point and when the label is cut it is carried forward by the cam means to the folder and creaser which is electrically heated.

The folder or creaser is so constructed that itgrasps and holds the label so that the main gripper jaws can release the label after it is grasped and the auxiliary or packeraws can be-moved to position and then grasp the label and when it is released by the folder or creaser advance it to the packaging devices which b its plunger forces the same into the t-u ular package. The ends of the label are bent at right angles in the-process of creasing, which. position they have a tendency to retain. They are embraced and engaged by suitable straightenmg means in the packaging device which deliver the labels flat into the tubular pack- I age Considering the numerals of reference, 1 is the general frame supported on legs 2 which may be secured to or rest upon a suitable work bench. 3 is the main base block secured to the frame and serving 'as the support for the label guide, for the cut-0d shears, for the label folder and. creaser and for the packaging plunger and chute means; 4 is the. carriage base block provided with 'wa s for the carriage for the label gripperv an handling devices.

5 is the main shaft of the machine supported in a suitable boxing 51 and provided with a hand balance wheel 52 and actuating cams are carried thereby for the folder and label carrier.. 6 is the main pulley on the shaft 5. Clutch 61 is provided for connecting the same to drive the shaft. A clutch rock lever 62 is supported in brackets 63 land is provided with a lever arm 64 (see Fig. 1). A spring lock arm 65 engages the lever and holds the clutch in open or-closed posit-ion. v I

7 is the cross shaft supported in suitable journal hearings on the frame and being provided with the encased bevel gear 8 to be drivenfrom the main shaft 5. It is provided wlth cam and eccentric means for block.

actuating various parts hereafter to be de- The shear is actuated by cam 10 on the shaft 7 which acts through the lever 101, fulcrumed at 102 on the said shear block 91. The rear end of the leveris connected by adjustable link 103 .to a rear projection 9- on the said shear. Thus when the shaft 7 rotates it causes the cam 10 to act upon the cam follower 10 on the' end of the lever 101 and as the cam is properly timed the shears cut off a label from the label strip as it is advanced step. by step by the label gripper and carrier. The label strip A is delivered through adjustable label. strip guidell where it is held in position by the weighted friction shoe 111. It is maintained in place by the slotted bracket 112 which engages guide pin 11 and permits the needed movement of the said shoe to serve as a guide and frictionmeans. s

It is held in yielding position The label folder is made up of a bottom member having a central fixed heater block 13 and adjustable press jaws 14, 14 at each side-pivoted to the cross arm 131 by the pivots 132 (see Figs. 6 and 7). The adjustable press jaws 14 are held yieldingly together at the lowerends by the cooperating spring 141 which tends to open the press jaws. A heater element 138 is shown as an electric resistance coil and provides the necessary heat for the creasing. This can be done by a gas flame. The upper ends of-the press aws l4 constitute press means which cooperate with the central heater These. press jaws are opened and closed by the action of the cam 15, shown in full lines in Fig. 6 closed and in dotted lines in'Fig. 7 open. The upper end of the central heater block 13 is recessed at. 143 to accommodate the lower jaw of the label carrying ripper aws.

The upper plunger member of the creaser 16 is provided with a pair of vertical parallel .spaced creaseror folder blades 161 adapted to force the ends of the label downwardly between the press jaws and heater block. The plunger 16 is in a suitable guide is regulated the adjustable stop 17 on shaft 151 journaled in block 13.

the supporting bracket 18. The stop 17 is slotted at 171 for engagement by a suitable set screw 172 (see Fig. 9). The plunger part of the creaser 16 is actuated by the reciprocating cam 19 which is provided with a movable member 191 pivoted thereto at 192 and held yieldingly in position by the spring 193. The cam plate 19 is notched at 194 and the movable part of the cam closes the notch when the cam recedes and leaves the same open when the cam is being pushed forward. The cam acts upon cam follower 167 on bracket 168 on the said lever 162 permitting the creaser plunger to act on the forward movement. The reciprocating cam is carried by a slide 20, being supported on a bracket or upwardly projecting arm 201 on the slide 20.

The slide 20 reciprocates in suitable ways 21 and is actuated from a cam 22 on the main shaft 5 acting against a cam follower 221 on the said slide 20 (see Figs. land 2). .The-

slide is held yieldingly towards the cam and the cam follower maintained in contact with the cam by the coil spring 202 connected to the cross arm 203 at the forward end and at the other end to a projecting pin 204 on the frame block 3. The slide 20 is also pro- 'vided with a projection 205 which carries an actuating pin 206 for opening and closing the creaser press jaws of the label folder. The cam 15 (see Figs. 6 and 8) is on rock Slotted arm 152 is engaged by said actuating pin 206. The press jaws are thus opened and closed.

The label packaging plunger 24 is in suitable guide-ways 241carried on the said block 3 as indicated. This plunger is actuated by the lever 242 fulcrumed at 243 on the sup porting arm 244 and actuated by connecting rod 245 to a suitable eccentric connection 246 on the shaft- 7 (see particularly Figs. 3 and 4).

The label grippers are on the main slide or carriage 25 suppoited, in suitable ways 26 on the base block.4. A cam 27 on theshaft 5 is" formed to time the movements of the slide and feed, carry, deliver'and pack the labels, the cam being provided with rests and actuating parts to effect this control. This slide carriage is held yieldingly in position by the spring 251 connected to rod 252 and urging it toward the cam 27. An arm 253 is provided with a cam follower roller 254.

Ways 28 for a cross carriage 29 are secured to the carriage 25, being adjustably secured thereto by suitable clip pieces 28. The cross carriage 29 is reciprocated back and forth in its ways by cam 30 on shaft 7. This acts against the cam follower 30 carried by the lever 302. The lever 302 is provided with an anti-friction roller 303 at its upper end. A cross guide bar 291 on the under side of the carriage 29 is engaged by the lever 302 and its roller 303. The cross bar 291 is parallel to the ways of the carriage 25 and reciproeates freely on roll 303 when the main carriage 25 is reciprocated and carries with it the cross carriage 29.

3131' are the upper and lower jaws of the main label feed and carrier jaws. 311 is the pivot of the upper jaw 31 which is extended into a lever and 311 is the pivot of the jaw 31 both supported by the cross carriage 29. 312 is the adjustable spring means to hold jaw 31 in closed position. 313 is the cam follower roll on the lever end of jaw 31. 314 is the cooperating cam bar supported by bace block 4 for raising or opening the jaw 31. 315 is the pivoted latch on the carriage 29 engaging the catch 315 on the lever end jaw 31. 316 is the trip for the latch to release the jaw and permitit to close. It is adjustably supported on arm 317 carried by block 4.

32 and 32 are the carrier jaws for grasping the label while held in the creaser and delivering the same from the creaser or folder to the packer chute in register with the plunger. They are connected to and controlled by the main jaw means and operate simultaneously in opening and closing and in all movements. They are carried by the same cross carriage 29.

. 33 is the pivoted guide bar for the lower gripper jaws of both pairs of jaws, pivoted at 331 and held yieldingly down by spring 332 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4). This is controlled by suitable cam on shaft 7.

34 is the packaging chute. 341 is the fiaring hopper at thetop of the chute to receive and guide the folded labels. It is slotted at 342 to accommodate the label delivery jaws and permit the projections on the plunger head to descend. Top members 343 are connected together toward their upper ends by a toggle joint 344 which spreads the top members outwardly when the center is forced down. The plunger head 247 has a yielding spring 248. The plunger presses the labels yieldingly onto the top members 343 and the toggle 344, spreading the top members outwardly at the same time with an ironing movement as the head is pressed down, smooths the label out fiat. The

plunger holds the label securely and passes it into the chute against the yielding follower 345 or the labels Fig. 10). A lever 346 isconnectedby link 347 to depress at the predetermined time the toggle and separates the top members, this being operated from cam on the shaft 7.

I have described in detail the parts which are of importance in this behalf and have described the action of the feed and carrier jaws and earns in general terms because they piled above it (see are the same as those appearing in the said .former patent and do not need detailed description here.

The features of special consequence here are the folder creaser means which are adthe general combination and are for special structures for that purpose.

That the relations and reasons for the various parts may fully appear, ll point out in detail the operation of the machine in cutting and folding a label. Starting with the label feed jaws 31 31' in the. initial position seen in Fig. 6, the first movement of the carriage carries the label strip forward one label length, where the shears 9 cut the'same. The label is then further carried by the j aws- 31 31 to the folder (as seen in Fig. 7), when the plunger 16 with the parallel blades'161 engages the end portion of the label, forcing it down between the heater block 13 and the presser jaws 14, 14, as seen in Fig; 7. The presser jaws close onto the end seams when the plunger and blades 161 are withdrawn, retaining the label in position. The jaws 31 31 are then withdrawn and returned to the initial position (seen in Fig. 6), at which time delivery jaws 32 32',being in precisely spaced relation, enter the folder and occupy the position that jaws 31 31' have just receded from, and grasp'the folded label at .the same time the feed jaws 31 31 grasp the labelstrip end. Then the movement is-repeated and the-delivery jaws 32 32' carry the label forward to the chute 3a where the jaws are withdrawn and the plunger head 24? presses the label yieldingly against the top closure members 343. The

toggle 344 is operated, spreading the jaws outwardly and ironing the label smooth against the under side of the plunger, which then presses it into the chute against the yielding follower 345 or the labels piled thereon, thus completing the cycle of operations of the machine.

When a longer label isto be folded, the cam 17 is adjusted to allow the lever 162 to move further down, thus forcing the seam deeper between the presser jaws. thus accom- Y lnodating and folding a longer label, so that it is only, necessary to adjust the feed to carry a longer label forward and provide the necessary chute at the other side for packaging the longer label. The longer label is straightened the same as the shorter and to claim the same specifically in the I particular form and also to claim the combination with each special feature to which notched for the label feed jaws with means for heating the same, presser jaws at each side of said block with means for opening and closing the same in timed relation to the movement of the label feed and delivery jaws, a plunger with parallel blades for en-\ gaging thelabel at each side of the central block and forcing the end portions thereof down between the block and the presser aws to fold and crease the same, a chute in series with said creaser and in equal spaced relation therefrom for delivering the labels to A a tubular package having a funnel at its top with cross slot to accommodate the label delivery jaws, pivoted top members for said chute spaced at the center and adapted to receive the ends of a label, a plunger timed to cooperate with the label delivery jaws adapted to flatten the labels on the top members and force the labels into the chute and thence deliver them to the tubular package, means for opening the top members to smooth the label out flat and provide for the free movement of said plunger and parts, a carriage and cross carriage with pairs of label feed and'label delivery. jaws carried thereby spaced to correspond to and cooperate with said shears, folders and paclnng chute, and cam means to actuate sald jaws to feed the label strip and the labels to the folder device and to actuate the delivery jaws to grdsp the label in the folder and deliver it to the chute, as described.

2. In a label folder, the combination of a central heater block notched at the top tov accommodate, label feeding jaws, presser jaws at each side of sald lock fulcrumeol on suitable pivots, spring means connected to the lower ends of said jaws. holding them in open position, a cam on suitable rockshaft between said jaws acting to close the said jaws toward the heater block to press and crease a label, a reciprocating folder plunger with blades disposed to force the ends of a label to be creased between said presser jaws and the heater block, and means to vary the movement of said plunger to fold labels f different lengths, as speclfied.

3. In a la el folder, the combination of a central heater block notched at the top to accommodate label feeding jaws, presser jaws at each side of said block fulcrumed on suit able pivots, spring means connected to the lowerends of said jaws holding them in open position, a cam on a suitable rockshaft between said jaws acting to close the said jaws toward the heater. block to press and crease a label, and a reciprocating folder plunger with blades disposed toiorce the ends 0 a label to be creased between said presser jaws and the heater block, as specified.

4. In a label packaging means, the combination of a chute, a hopper therefor with a central slot to accommodate label feeding jaws, top closure means pivoted ateach side and separated at the center to afiord space to accommodate label feeding jaws, a plunger cooperating with said top closures to press a label against the top c1osures,r and toggle connections for said closures adapted to-open theLSame at the downward movement of the plunger, to straighten the labels and deliver the same to said chute for packaging.

5. In a label packaging means, the combination of a chute, a hopper therefor with a central slot to accommodate label feeding jaws, top closuremeans pivoted at each side and separated at the center to afiord space to accommodate label feeding jaws, a plunger cooperating with said top closures to press a label against the top closures, and means adapted to open the same at the downward movement of the plunger, to straighten the labels and deliver the same to for packaging.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR ROSENTHAL.

said chute 

